RN vs BSN for travel

[Rdefib]

I was wondering if having an RN instead of a BSN would limit my choices for travel positions? I am bridging from paramedic to RN and I plan on obtaining my BSN eventually but wanted to know if I should before I even consider traveling.

Also, I am going to specialize as an ER nurse since I've been a paramedic for 5 years in a busy system...should I reconsider or are there typically enough choices as an ER nurse nationwide?

Thanks!

[NedRN]

Almost never is a BSN required for any travel assignment. ED is bread and butter: lots of assignments. Probably the widest selection of any specialty.

[guest769224]

Almost never is a BSN required for any travel assignment. ED is bread and butter: lots of assignments. Probably the widest selection of any specialty.

Do you know if Hawaii (mainly Oahu, like Queen's), or NYC, or big name hospitals in California require their traveler's to have a BSN?

Or are they also exempt to your knowledge?

[NedRN]

I'm not sure what exempt means in this context. I cannot name a single hospital anywhere that requires a BSN for travelers. I've worked at most name brand hospitals in California alongside of diploma prepared RNs.

[8-ball, BSN]

As Ned said none of them require it. Some in NY tried that for a while but found out that they couldn't staff enough BSN's and finally caved. However having a BSN might help your chances in landing a lucrative position if you and another nurse with similar experience and qualifications are both wanting the same job. I have my BSN now after initially having only my RN, I wish I would have saved the money.

[NedRN]

There is basically no advantage for a traveler to upgrade their RN (diploma or associate) to BSN. There may possibly be a slim advantage to getting a BSN on your profile competitively, but I think experience, specialty certifications, and hospital names on your work history carry more weight to an interviewing manager.

There does appear to be a research backed care delivery advantage to BSN prepared nurses (after a couple years of experience) but it is not intuitive to most nurses and managers.

For those choosing nursing as a career with no college, choosing a BSN over an ADN makes a lot of sense if cost and opportunity to enter those programs are otherwise equal. After all, there is only about one semesters difference between the two degrees. There is an additional advantage to choosing a BSN over an ADN program, the stress levels are usually much lower (although the board pass rates are a few points lower).

For those with college, I'd recommend looking at accelerated MSN programs, typically only 17 months long. Either a BSN or an MSN will allow better non-travel career options, including so-called magnet hospitals that are the primary place where ADN or diploma nurses may have difficulty in getting a staff position.

An MSN certainly would be impressive on a traveler profile, but still I'm not sure what a manager will make of it, especially as most won't have an MSN themselves.

Anyway to 8-ball, there is no downside to additional education and training. And should you drop out of being a traveler, having your BSN will allow for more career options.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Your first step is to get an ER nursing job and build experience before looking into travel jobs.